How This Forum Works

First and foremost: No flaming, calling names, or general rudeness.  Simply put, be nice to one another.  No messages should be in ALL PPER CASE, rather, use lower case.

At the top is a menu.  These are the things each item will do:

1.  The "New Message" tab brings up a typing box that is used for creating a new message thread. A thread is a series of posts that have replies below them.  In the new message box as well as the "Reply" message box are several elements including your "name", or nickname. Your "e-mail" address (optional).  "Subject line" is where you place your title for the post.  The "Message" box is self explanatory.  The "Link URL" is where a link to another location on the Internet goes.  The "Link URL" is used to show a web page, a picture, or some other Web site element.  "Link Title" is what appears above your post that can be "Clicked" on to take us to you  link.  The "Image URL" is a link to a Web location that will display a picture directly in the message area.

2.  "View Latest Messages" is the most useful tool for just finding what the latest posts are.

3.  "View Threads" lists all of the "New Messages" without the replies below them.

4.  "All Forums" is used to see links to other forums on this Web site.

5.  "Search" is a great tool if you want to find something specific. Try using it by placing a word, or string of words in the box and then wait for it to search all of the messages in the history, and it will bring those posts up for you to review.

6.  "Frequently Axsked Questions" = This page that you are reading now.

When you open either a "New Message, or "Post Followup, you have options.  Notice that there is both an E-mail box, and a check box for the forum to remember your personal information; both of these are optional.

Just below the body of the "message" box are three buttons.  "Preview Message" is to review your post before it is forever placed on the forum.  It is expecially good to use this feature if you have made links to other sites, or linked to a picture, etc. The middle button is to immediately post your message.  The right button clears the "Message Box".

Below the buttons are three more boxes that are used to make links to other URLs, or link to pictures that you want to appear in your post.  When using the "Link URL", don't forget to give it some kind of title!  "Image URL" is for .jpg, or .gif format pictures that you want included within your post.

In addition to what  we have discussed above, HTML is enabled. That means that you can type HTML tags into your message area and change the look of your text. Here are some examples:

First, note that HTML tags are not seen by the one viewing.  Your Internet browser program  (Netscape, Mozilla, or Internet Explorer) "sees" the tags and makes the changes automatically. With some exceptions, all starting tags have to have a closing tag which uses the / slash mark. All tags start and end with < > brackets.  Here are some examples.

<b> = bold type.  </b> is the closing tag that must be used to stop the bold type.

<i> = italics type. </i> is used to stop it.

<u> = underline type.  </u> is used to stop it.

<blockquote> = an inset bunch of typing so as to set it apart from your main message. </blockquote> stops it.

<font color=red> = making the typing a different color. The usual 16 Crayola colors can be used </font> stops it.

<font face=arial> is used to change the font to some other specific type face. </font> stops it.

<img src="http://www.whatever.com/picture.jpg"> = a way to insert a picture right into your text. There is no closing tag.

<hr> will draw a horizontal line wherever you place it. No closing tag.

<a href="http://www.another_web_site.com">CLICK HERE</a> = will send the reader to another Web page when clicked upon.

Have fun, and experiment by using the "Preview Message" button to see what it will look like before you "Post Message"